REVIEW – Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire

The Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster phenomenon continues in the first heart-pounding new adult romance in The Maddox Brothers series.

Fiercely independent Camille “Cami” Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.

Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt.

Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red.

As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she’ll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever—even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.

Jamie McGuire’s Maddox Brothers are going to be the death of me, but in the best way possible. Beautiful Oblivion has been on my To-Read list since it was untitled, no synopsis, no release date, etc. Jamie McGuire is just one of those tried and true authors of mine, and again with this book, she absolutely doesn’t disappoint!

Oh Trenton….I don’t know that there are words for how much I love him. As much as I hate to compare the Maddox Brothers, it’s hard not to considering Travis has always raised the bar so high for me. Trenton is completely swoonworthy but in a totally different way than Travis was. I loved that Jamie wrote him in a way that we were utterly aware of his reputation, but we really only got tiny glimpses of it. He set his eyes on the prize and wasn’t going to stop until he got it. He was so sweet and protective, which was an instant turn-on for me! That fierceness with which he executed his emotions just made me fall completely in love with him.

Cami was also one of those characters that you just KNOW will stay with you. Jamie has this way of writing such strong, independent females. Cami is the only girl in her family so she has that no holds barred, doesn’t take shit, feisty attitude. However, she is ALSO incredibly protective of those she loves – especially her brothers. I adored the sibling relationships because it was portrayed so realistically. You want to protect each other, even though it may not always be done the right way, while also feeling this obligation to those who raised you. The dynamic to Cami’s character was just something special that hit me pretty hard.

Trent’s persistence from the beginning of this book just kept me hooked until the very last page. They truly started as friends and without even realizing it, fell in love. I actually liked the twist and didn’t see it coming! It threw me for a loop that I still don’t think I’m recovered from. Beautiful Oblivion is definitely one of my favorite reads so far this summer (and year), and Trenton Maddox DEFINITELY proved to be some fine, fine cashmere! 😉